Chapter 2
Vida watched as Colton unlocked the door to his apartment. She was still trembling from the ride from King’s club. She had never ridden on a motorcycle before and his snapped, “Hold on tight”, had startled her when she had gingerly put her arms around his waist.
Colton put her bag down by the door. He then moved through the apartment, opening and shutting doors before coming back and picking up her bag.
“There’s only one bedroom and since I’ve only slept on a twin bed for the last three years, you can take the couch.”
“I can sleep on the couch.” Vida would sleep on the floor as long as it was outside of the Purple Pussycat. The club had four bedrooms and each one was shared by three women. If one of the women she was sharing a room with decided to have company and there were no private rooms available, she would bring her guest back to the shared bedroom. Vida had walked into several situations that had been too embarrassing for words before she could tactfully leave the room.
Colton threw her a thoughtful look before putting her bag on the chair. “There is a hall closet; you can stash your stuff there. You hungry?”
“No, I already ate.”
“I have to go out. If you get hungry, there’s supposed to be food in the cabinets and fridge.”
“Okay.” Vida went to the chair, picked up her backpack and began pulling out her schoolbook and laptop. Going to the small kitchen table, she organized everything she would need before sitting down.
Vida felt Colton’s sharp gaze touch on her briefly before leaving the room. She took a deep breath once he’d left.
His presence was overwhelming. His height alone was intimidating without his fierce expression. He didn’t come out and say she was an inconvenience to him, but from his abrupt voice and mannerisms, she could tell he was pissed. Vida had little doubt that he was as much under King’s thumb as she was herself.
He was uptight about something and Vida could tell by his vibes he was anxious to be away from her. The sound of the shower running put Vida’s mind to imagining him without his clothes. She could picture his hard body with water sliding over his flesh.
Determined to change the direction of her thoughts, Vida opened her book and then powered up her laptop, focusing on doing her homework. If she wasn’t careful, she could easily get behind. She didn’t have much longer; only another month and she would have the diploma she had worked so hard for.
Vida looked up from her book when Colton emerged from the bedroom. His hair was still wet and he was wearing a faded pair of jeans and a black t-shirt. He moved quietly, even while wearing heavy motorcycle boots. She swallowed nervously, her eyes dropping back to her book.
“I have to go out for a couple of hours. Lock the door behind me and don’t answer it for anyone. Have you got a cell phone?”
Vida picked up her cell phone lying beside the computer.
“Let me have it.” She was becoming aware Colton had issues with politeness.
Vida handed him her cell phone, watching as he looked it over, then with a series of movements he handed it back to her.
“I programmed my number into it. Call me immediately if there’s a problem.” His face was expressionless as Vida nodded her head, not knowing what else to say. She was a nervous wreck being in the same room with him.
She had, until lately, been with young men her own age and had never considered herself shy, yet the last two weeks working at the strip club where men thought she was readily available for their amusement, had changed her. She had quickly learned to become cautious around men.
Colton was different; she’d seen it in his eyes. He had seen her naked and wasn’t interested. Feelings of shame almost overwhelmed her, but she quickly squashed them and reached for her pencil, making notes on her assignment page.
She felt him hesitate before leaving and then the door closed softly behind him. Vida got up; making sure the door was locked then went back to her homework while refusing to allow her thoughts to wander to where Colton was going at this time of night.
* * *
A knock sounded on the door just as Colton was about to reach for Rae again.
“You expecting someone?” Colton asked, reaching for his pants instead.
“No. Don’t get dressed. I’ll see who it is and get rid of them,” Rae protested as she watched him cover his taut ass with his jeans before zipping them closed.
“Answer the door.” Colton didn’t stop getting dressed, pulling his t-shirt over his head as Rae shrugged on a bathrobe. He had just finished putting on his boots when she returned.
“He says he has a message from King.” Rae had fear in her eyes. Colton got to his feet and went into Rae’s living room where one of King’s men stood by the door waiting. His impassive face watched as Rae leaned against him as if seeking protection.
“King wants a talk. He’s outside.” Giving the message, he remained still, waiting for Colton’s reply.
“I’m on my way.” A sharp nod and the man left, leaving the door open. Colton took the hint that King meant now.
“I have to go, Rae. It was good seeing you again.” Colton pulled the woman he had known for several years close, giving her a quick kiss before turning towards the door.
“You’re not coming back?” Colton could hear the disappointment in her voice.
“Not tonight. I’ll give you a call.”
Without giving her a chance to reply, he left, closing the door behind him. He would call, just not too soon. He had no intention of giving her a reason to believe he wanted anything except a fuck. He had finally got out of prison and he was going to make damn sure that this time he remained emotionally free from a woman. He wasn’t about to let another one get a hold over him, ever again.
Taking his time, he spotted King’s ride in the parking lot and walked toward the car. The back door opened as he approached. Sliding in, he was met by an angry King glaring at him through the hazy smoke of his lit cigarette.
“Tell me why, when I gave you the job of watching Vida, you’re here fucking? Leaving her alone is not protecting her,” King said sarcastically.
“Because I have been locked up for three years and I needed to fuck before I lost my mind holed up with her,” Colton replied just as sarcastically.
“I offered one of the women before you left,” King snapped.
“I didn’t want paid-for pussy. I wanted a woman who wanted a fuck, not someone who was only in it because she works for you.”
King stiffened. “All the women who work for me want to work. I don’t force any of them to do what they don’t want.”
“Did Vida want to take off her clothes?” Colton returned his sarcasm.
King threw his cigarette out the window. “I gave her the choice. She was smart enough to know it was actually safer for her to blend in with the rest of the women.”
“Doesn’t matter. I’m finished here.”
“Colton.” King’s voice stopped him before he could get out of the car. “Anything happens to that girl on your watch, I won’t be happy.” He left little doubt how unhappy he would be, so Colton simply nodded, getting out of the car.
* * *
Vida heard the keys in the door and pretended to be asleep on the couch. He fumbled with the latch on the door after closing it, his footsteps quiet as he crossed the room. The sound of the door to his room opening and closing allowed the tension to ease from her stiff body. Rolling to her side, Vida closed her eyes, feeling safe for the first time in a long time.